Al-Balqa Applied University
Prince Abdullah bin Ghazi Faculty of ICT
Computer Science Department
Computer Skills for Students of Scientific Colleges
LECTURE #1
Introduction to Python & The Future of Programming
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Understand what Python is and why it is widely used.
Run Python programs using an online compiler.
Write your first Python program.
Use basic input and output statements.
Explain how Python supports modern career paths such as AI and Data Science.
Why Are We Learning Python?
You already learned programming using C++.
That means you already know how to:
✔ think like a programmer
✔ solve problems using code
✔ understand variables, conditions, and loops
Now it is time to learn a language that is:
easier to write
faster to develop with
widely used in industry
essential for AI and Data Science
Page 1 of 6
Python is not just another programming language.
It is the language behind:
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Cybersecurity tools
Automation
Data Science
Web applications
Many of the world’s top companies use Python, including:
Google
Netflix
Amazon
Meta
So by learning Python, you are not only learning a course…
You are investing in your future career.
What Makes Python Special?
Python is known for its:
1️⃣ Simplicity
In many languages, writing a simple program requires many lines of code.
In Python, we can do the same task with fewer lines.
2️⃣ Readability
Python code looks almost like English.
This makes it:
easier to learn
easier to debug
easier to maintain
3️⃣ Power
Python is used in:
small scripts
large enterprise systems
scientific research
Page 2 of 6
Running Python Online
In this course, we will use:
[Link]
This allows you to:
write code
run code
test programs
without installing anything.
Later in the course, we will also learn how to run Python using other environments, not only the
online compiler, such as dedicated software and Google Colab.
Your First Python Program
print("Hello, World!")
▶ Output
Hello, World!
Explanation
print() is used to display output on the screen.
Printing Multiple Values
print("Welcome to Python")
print("Faculty of Information Technology")
print("Python Programming Course")
Try It Yourself
Write a program that prints:
Welcome to Python Programming
Your Name
Your Major
Page 3 of 6
Using Escape Characters
print("Welcome to Python\nThis is Lecture 1")
Output:
Welcome to Python
This is Lecture 1
Getting Input from the User
Programs become powerful when they interact with users.
name = input("Enter your name: ")
print("Hello", name)
Sample Run
Enter your name: Ahmad
Hello Ahmad
How Python Stores Input
By default:
input()
stores data as a string.
We will learn later how to convert it to numbers.
Mini Practice
Write a program that:
1. asks the user for:
o name
o university
2. prints:
Welcome <name> to <university>
Page 4 of 6
Python and Your Career
In the coming lectures, you will use Python to build:
real programs
mini projects
data processing tools
Later in your study plan, Python will be your main tool for:
Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Data Analysis
This course is your gateway to those fields.
In-Class Exercises
Exercise 1
Write a program that prints:
Python is powerful
Python is easy
Python is fun
Exercise 2
Write a program that asks the user for:
his/her favorite programming language
Then print:
Your favorite language is ______
Exercise 3
Write a program that prints the following shape:
*
**
***
****
Page 5 of 6
Homework
HW1
Write a program that asks the user for:
name
age
Then prints:
Hello <name>, you are <age> years old.
HW2
Write a program that asks the user to enter (name, university, and specialization) and prints:
Name: Ali
University: BAU
Specialization: Computer Science
using only one print statement.
Summary
In this lecture, you learned:
✔ Why Python is important
✔ How to run Python online
✔ Your first Python program
✔ How to print output
✔ How to get input from the user
You also took the first step toward: AI, data science, and real-world programming
Next Lecture
In the next lecture, we will learn:
Variables in Python
Dynamic typing
Storing and manipulating data
© 2026 Dr Mohammad Hashem Ryalat. Draft Notes. All rights reserved.
Page 6 of 6